ASUS WiFi 6 router review: Ultrafast router with a crazy cool design

Your router is typically not an item that is given much thought. Most of us are happy to use the router we get from our service provider. However, South African consumers are in for a treat with a ton of new high-speed routers hitting our shores soon.

Not only does the ASUS RT-AX82U deliver ultrafast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 5 400 Mbps, but the router is also packed with advanced tech such as Mobile Game Mode for a lag-free, low-latency experience.

We had the opportunity to test the ASUS RT-AX82U Wi-Fi 6 router and experienced first-had the future of Wi-Fi technology. Here’s what you need to know.

ASUS RT-AX82U review: Prioritise your gaming

Brains and beauty

The ASUS RT-AX82U is marketed as a gaming router which is clear from its striking design. As a result, you’re going to be paying a premium for a router that has both looks and performance.

If you’re only interested in performance, you’ll probably be better off waiting a bit until Wi-Fi 6 eventually becomes the standard. However, this router is meant for gamers and as a companion to other ASUS products.

When paired with my ROG Strix, the router was easily recognised by the ASUS software and had additional optimisation settings to help get the best network experience for gaming.

In fact, the RT-AX82U has a dedicated Gaming Port which automatically prioritises any wired device connected to it. Alternatively, you can prioritise any device wirelessly via the Gear Accelerator.

Easy installation

The router is pretty quick to get set up. Once the setup was complete, you’ll be met with so many options to play around with; it will be a dream come true for more tech-savvy users out there.

The one South African specific problem I did encounter, though: the ASUS RT-AX82U uses a different power supply to most routers. As a result, I wasn’t able to power it from the power bank I normally use for my fibre box and router.

I had to switch to my old router during load shedding. But that said, if you’re getting this for gaming purposes, Eskom will throw in a spanner in the works regardless of which router you use, amirite?

Not only is it easy to set up, but you can also manage it via the mobile app, which provides graphical monitoring of real-time traffic. It can also pinpoint network problems or share your Wi-Fi passwords securely with guests.

Router performance

The router performed well, dealing with multiple high-bandwidth usage devices simultaneously while still delivering low latency for gaming.

The technology is great and you’ll want to give a bit of thought to the placement of your router in relation to your high-priority Wi-Fi 6 devices to get the most out of it.

The one thing that I will say is that this is still the early days of WiFi 6. Therefore, my PlayStation 5 and Samsung S20 Plus were able to make use it. But you’ll only really start seeing more devices rolling out with Wi-Fi 6 support in the coming year.

Device specifications

The router ships with a power adapter, RJ-45 cable, warranty card and a quick start guide. You’ll find the following ports along the rear: Power port, Power switch, USB 3.0 port, Gigabit LAN port, WAN port, WPS button and a reset button.

Conclusion

If you’re an avid online gamer where ping matters, this is a very impressive router that’s pretty easy on the eye as well. And if you’re running RGB lighting, customise the router’s RGB offering for a cohesive look.

Pros

• Powerful performance
• Beautifully designed
• Versatile controls
• Easy to set up and use
• RGB lighting and useful features

Cons

• Must be optimally placed
• Couldn’t power with a powerbank
• Cannot be mounted on a wall